OEDER I. 



RAPTORES. 



The peculiarities already given of the order Baptores are sufficient to define it among the 

 others mentioned, although many additional features might be named. The order embraces 

 three families, which are characterized by Keyserling and Blasius as follows : 



A. — DiDBNAL BIRDS OS PKET. 



Eyes lateral, with lashes, surrounded by a naked or woolly orbital circle ; the feathers above, 

 below, and behind the eyes directed backwards, as on the rest of the head ; anterior to the eye 

 the lore imperfectly clothed with a radiating star of bristles, or with scale-like feathers. The 

 inner toe without the nail, shorter, or as long as the outer. Nostrils opening in the cere. 



VuLTURiDAB. Bill contracted or indented on the anterior border of the cere, so that the culmen 

 is bow shaped, or ascending anterior to it. Eyes lying on a level with the sides of the head. 

 Head sparsely covered with downy feathers only, or partially naked. Claws weak, rather 

 slender, and only moderately curved ; the tarsi and bases of the toes reticulated. 



Falcontdab. The bill not contracted, nor the culmen ascending anterior to the cere. Eyes 

 sunken. The head completely covered with compact, perfect feathers. Claws strong. 



B. — ■Nocturnal birds of prey. 



Strigidab. Eyes directed forwards ; more or less completely surrounded by a crown of radiating 

 bristly feathers. Lores and base of bill densely covered with bristly feathers directed forwards. 

 The nostrils opening on the anterior edge of the cere. The inner toe without its claw longer 

 than the outer, which is versatile. A crown of peculiarly formed feathers on the side of the head, 

 and above the throat. Head fully feathered. Plumage very soft and downy. 



The different families of Baptores have much the same character throughout the world, with 

 the exception of the VuUuridae, in which the species of America or Oathartinae, are distinguish- 

 able from the old world Vulturinae by narrow, elongated, and perforate nostrils, those of oppo- 

 site sides not separated by a partition ; the toes are longer, with a greater extent of web between 

 the three anterior ones ; the neck shows single patches of perfectly naked skin. The tail con- 

 sists of but twelve feathers, &c. (Burmeister.) 



NoTB. — The following article on the rapacious birds has been prepared by Mr. Jolm Cassin, of Philadelphia. — S. F. B. 



